Pocono Raceway Festival in Stroudsburg

Communities throughout the Poconos are gearing up for the tens of thousands of NASCAR fans making their way to the track this weekend for the big race.

One of those communities is downtown Stroudsburg, where on Saturday the fourth annual Pocono Raceway Festival will get underway.

Workers at the Sherman Theater in downtown Stroudsburg have been busy all Friday getting ready for the Pocono Raceway Festival.

Crews have been unloading trucks filled with barriers and other supplies for the day-long festival on Main Street on Saturday.

“We’ll have a full-blown street fair right here in downtown Stroudsburg. Four different stages, 14 bands with music, a carnival, hundreds of vendors, food, fun, kids rides, everything,” said Sherman Theater President Richard Berkowitz.

Thousands are expected to pack Main Street, which shuts down at 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the festival starting at 11 a.m.

Local businesses along Main Street can’t wait.

Cat’s Incredible Hot Dogs is the newest kid on the block.

The Pocono Raceway Festival will be its first and workers there are all geared up for the crowds.

“Cat’s been making the sauces all day, she’s back there, has all our Cat’s incredible sauces ready. She’s chopping the onions and we’re all ready to go,” said Stephen Ohocinski, the vice president of Cat’s Incredible Hot Dogs.

Grandpa Pete’s Bagels, located a few stores away, is also excited about the festival.

The owner said each year the festival is very profitable for his business and every other business that stays open in the downtown area.

“Anything where you can bring into a small area like Stroudsburg, it’s going to benefit all of us,” said Joseph Sinagra, the owner of Grandpa Pete’s Bagels.